Legends of Wrestling: The Ultimate Warrior

In 1987, a spaceship which had departed from parts unknown arrived in the World Wrestling Federation. From this ship emerged… THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR!!! He first appeared on the grand stage as an entrant into the 1988 Royal Rumble Match, but he was not yet an icon and was eliminated quickly. He then defeated Hercules Hernandez, of The Heenan Family, at WrestleMania IV in Atlantic City.

The Ultimate Warrior first made his mark when Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake was injured by “The Outlaw” Ron Bass. Beefcake was the #1 Contender for The Honky Tonk Man’s Intercontinental Championship, so Honky was now without an opponent for SummerSlam 1988. The Warrior substituted and defeated The Honky Tonk Man in a record time to win the prestigious Intercontinental Championship. The Warrior was also the sole survivor in the opening match of Survivor Series 1988.

The Ultimate Warrior competed against “Ravishing” Rick Rude in a super pose-down at Royal Rumble 1989, which ended in a no contest after Rude gave The Warrior a cheap-shot. The Ravishing One then defeated The Warrior at WrestleMania V for his title with assistance from Rick Rude’s manager, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Their rematch as SummerSlam 1989 was one of the greatest matches in the career of The Warrior. With assistance from “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, The Warrior regained his title. The Warrior was a sole survivor once again, this time in the main event of Survivor Series 1989.

At Royal Rumble 1990, The Ultimate Warrior crossed paths with “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan, the WWF Champion. The Hulkster inadvertently eliminated The Warrior and set the stage for the “ultimate challenge” at WrestleMania VI in Toronto. Champion vs. champion. Title for title. The Warrior made history by becoming the first superstar since the birth of Hulkamania to score a legit victory over Hulk Hogan, also becoming the first superstar to hold both the Intercontinental and WWF Championships. The Warrior was then forced to relinquish the Intercontinental Championship by Jack Tunney, president of the WWF, so he could focus on the defending the WWF World Title.

The Ultimate Warrior successfully defended the gold at SummerSlam 1990 against his long time nemesis, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, in a Steel Cage Match. The Warrior was a sole survivor yet again at Survivor Series 1990, earing his way into the grand finale match of survival, where he and Hulk Hogan were victorious. The Warrior refused to defend his title against “Macho King” Randy Savage, likely because The Macho King had his manager, Sensational “Queen” Sherri, issue the challenge on his behalf, so Savage interfered in The Warrior’s match with Sgt. Slaughter at Royal Rumble 1991, costing Warrior the WWF Championship.

The Ultimate Warrior and “Macho King” Randy Savage, two of the top stars of their era, faced off in a Career Ending Match at WrestleMania VII in Los Angeles. The Warrior was victorious in this show stealing match and (temporarily) retired Randy Savage. The Warrior then resumed his feud with Sgt. Slaughter, teaming with Hulk Hogan in a Handicap Match at SummerSlam 1991 against The Triangle of Terror: Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustapha, & Gen. Adnan. Sid Justice was the special guest referee. Hogan and The Warrior were the winners, but The Warrior disappeared from the WWF immediately following the match. Warrior had, just prior to SummerSlam, been double crossed by Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who aligned with The Undertaker and Paul Bearer, but there was no resolution to this rivalry.

The Ultimate Warrior made his surprise return to the WWF at WrestleMania VIII in Indianapolis, saving Hulk Hogan from Sid Justice and Papa Shango. The Warrior then challenged “Macho Man” Randy Savage, the reigning WWF Champion, at SummerSlam 1992. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig interfered in the match and The Warrior won via count out, but titles cannot change hands on a count out. Warrior and Savage formed “The Ultimate Maniacs” alliance and were set to face Ric Flair and Razor Ramon in a tag team match at Survivor Series 1992, but Warrior again vanished from WWF programming. He was replaced by Mr. Perfect in the match.

This time, The Ultimate Warrior remained gone for over three years before returning at WrestleMania XII in Anaheim to decimate Hunter Hearst Helmsley. He was set to face Goldust for the Intercontinental Championship at In Your House a month later, but Goldust had injured his knee earlier in the night and intentionally got himself counted out to retain his title. After defeating Jerry “The King” Lawler at King of the Ring 1996, The Warrior was to team up with Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson against Camp Cornette: Vader, Owen Hart, & The British Bulldog at the next In Your House, but abruptly left the WWF for a third time and was replaced by Sycho Sid.

The Ultimate Warrior resurfaced two years later in World Championship Wrestling, confronting “Hollywod” Hulk Hogan on Monday Nitro. The Warrior participated in a #1 Contenders’ War Games Match at Fall Brawl 1998, then was defeated by Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc 1998. Members of the New World Order interfered in the match and The Warrior’s brief tenure in WCW came to and end soon after.

The Ultimate Warrior came out of retirement in 2008 for a match against Orlando Jordan in Nu-Wrestling Evolution. The Warrior won and relinquished the NWE Championship all on the same night. The Warrior will soon be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on the eve of WrestleMania XXX in New Orleans.